Sucker rod backoff wheel



Sept. 28, 1948. F. AUSTIN 2,450,103

SUCKER ROD BAQKOFF WHEEL .2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept 13, 1945 A: v 4 .4mm fRA/Wf A usr/ /v;

Ta? 1 @M WJ Sept. 28, 1948. F. AUSTIN 2,450,103

' S UCKER ROD BACKOFF WHEEL Filed Sept. 13, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 S\\\\ III V A n If; E- 54 a 5'. Z /4 2 I. U? J6 3 g l l 0 I it 55/ 9 i a tented Sept. 28, 1948 UNITED STATES FATENT OFFICE SUCKER ROD BACKOFF WHEEL Frank Austin, Long Beach, Calif.

Application September 13, 1945, Serial No. 616,116

2 Claims.

This invention relates to a backofi Wheel used for unscrewing sucker rod sections when removal of the same from a well is necessary.

In the operation of a pumping oil well, it is necessary to have a string of sucker rods running from the top of the well to the pump which is seated on the lower end of the tubing. In a deep well, these rods are larger at the top of the string than at the lower end due to the greater load being placed on the top rods.

When a pump is to be changed, these rods are pulled out in sections of regular length, usually 90 feet, and a new pump installed and the string of rods are then replaced. All rods except special ones used for fishing jobs are connected by right hand threads every thirty feet. Sometimes, when it becomes necessary to p-ull'the rods it is found that the pump cannot be unseated from the bottom due to scale or sand that has settled around the pump barrel. In this case the rods have to be turned to the left until they become unscrewed at some point down the hole and the rods which are recovered in this manner are then pulled out. The tubing is then pulled until the upper end of the string of rods is exposed again and. the operation started over again until all the rods have been stripped out.

During these backofi operations it is desirable to place strain in the rods before turning to the left. This :places more strain on the upper end of the string of rods than is on the deeper c'ouplings, the idea being that the rods will part at a greater depth and more of them removed at onetime. After a number of turns are put in the rods it is sometimes desirable to lessen thestrain on the rods with the torque still in them. This will often cause the rods to part instantly. Since the rods do not often become unscrewed without considerable efiort, it is desirable to provide a tool that can be placed on the rods and the rods rtated with a minimum of danger to the crew.

Tools now in use have not been found satisfactory and it is therefore one object of the invention to provide a device which may be used for unscrewing sucker rods when a string of rods cannot be pulled from a well, the tool not being conditions.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device which will be under complete control of the operator at all times during its use in backin off the rods.

Another object of the invention is to provide a devilde including in its construction, a wheel formed with a radially extending slot so that it intended for use as a rod wrench under normal improved means for rotatably mounting the wheel v and improved means for controlling retrograde rotation of the wheel after it has been turned in a direction for unscrewing the sucker rod sections from each other.

Another object of the invention is to provide latch means for the wheel carried by anchoring means for the wheel mounting and also a brake, movable into and out of position for gripping the under face of the wheel and firmly holding the wheel against turning when so desired.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of this character which is of simple construction, very easy to operate and not liable to get out of order and become broken when sub-- jected to strains during use. 1

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of the device shown applied to a sucker rod;

"Figure 2 is a bottom plan view of the tool;

Figure 3 is a side elevation showing the tool applied to a sucker rod;

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken along line 4-4 of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along line 5-5 of Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken along line 66 of Figure 4; and

Figure 7 is a view similar to Figure 6 showing the latch depressed to a position for releasing the wheel.

This improved tool is formed of strong metal and hasa wheel I provided with spokes 2 extending radially of the wheel between the hub 3 and the rim 4 of the wheel. The hub is in the form of a flat disk and at its center is formed with an opening 5 to receive a sucker rod 6 which is engage'd in this opening by passing it through a slot 1 extending radially of the wheel and bordered along its sides by strips 8 which take the place of one of the spokes.

A circular mounting ring or collar 9 is disposed under the wheel concentric thereto and has a removable lower section 9 held in place by screws H) which engage in threaded openings II and firmly hold the ring to the wheel. Before the sec tion 9' is applied, a ring I2 is set in place about the collar 9 and fits loosely in the groove l3 extending about the collar and from this ring l2 extends a plate I4 having its outer end portion formed with side openings I5, so that by passing anchoring cables l6 through these openings the plate and the ring I2 may be firmly mounted :between suitable supports and the ring prevented from having rota-ry movement. A slot I8 is formed through the ring I2 diametrically opposite the plate I4 and when the wheel is turned to the position shown in Figures 1 and 2 and its slot 1 disposed in registry with the slot [8 the sucker rod may be engaged in the outer end portion of slot 1 and the wheel shifted into place about the sucker rod.

The wheel must be firmly secured to the sucker rod in order to turn the rod when the wheel is turned and in order to do so there has been provided a clamp having a stationary jaw 19 and a companion jaw 20. The jaw or block 19 is secured to .the hub or plate 3 by screws 21 and at its inner side is formed midway its length with a recess 22 to receive the sucker rod and at its ends with flanges or ribs .23 about which engage the hook shaped end portions 24 of the jaw or block '20. Midway the length of its inner side face, the block 2!] is formed with .a recess 25 in which is fitted a key 26 having anedge face presented towards the sucker rod formed with longitudinally extending teeth for biting engagement with the sucker rod when a set screw .21 engaged in a threaded opening 28 -in the block is turned in a tightening direc- "The key has its outer side edge face stepped, as shown in Figure 4, so that it is progressively reduced in thickness towards its lower end, and by shifting the key vertically in the recess it may accommodate itself to the diameter of the sucker rod for firm gripping engagement'therewi-th when the set screwis tightened. This also provides the key with shoulders 29 for res-ting upon the upper face of the block at the upper end of the recess 25 and supporting the key-s that it may not accidentally drop downwardly through the recess and be lost if the set screwworks loose. The diameter .of the wheel is so much'gre-ater than that of the sucker rod that when the wheel is grasped by its rim or outer end portions of its spokes the leverage exerted will cause sections of the string of sucker rods to be readily loosened and unscrewed from eaclrother.

When the wheel is turned in a direct-ion .to unscrew the section of the sucker rods from each other, it is desired to permit the wheel to be turned-a partial rotationand then be held against retograde rotation. In order to do so there has been provided a .latch '31) which extends circumferen-tially of the wheel in the channel :3! of a latch housing or bracket 32. This housing or bracket is mounted against the under face of the plate 14 by screws 33 which are passed upwardly through openings in the flange 3.4 of the bracket and into-threaded openings formed in the plate. Therefore, the bracket or housing is .removably mounted and by detaching the housingthe latch may be set into the housing with its end carrying the upstanding bill 35 projecting from either side of the housing desired and hold the wheel against free turning in either a right-hand or left-hand direction.

The latch is pivotally mounted by a pin 36 passed through aligned openings 3? at one side or the other of the housing and'a spring 38 formed from a,striplofjresilient metal urges thelatch upwardly so that while the latch may be depressed and allow the spokes to pass over its bill as the wheel is turned in a direction to unscrew sucker rods from each and then return to its normal position for engaging side portions of the spokes and prevent retrograde rotation of the wheel.

In some cases it is desirable to prevent even limited retrograde rotation of the wheel and maintain as much torque upon-the string of sucker rods as possible, therefore there has been provided a brake shoe or block 39 which is disposed against the inner side face of the bracket 32 between guide blocks 40 held to the bracket 32 by screws -H. A shaft 42 is rotatably mounted through the lower portion of the bracket midway the width thereof and has its outer end portion protruding from the bracket and carrying a handle or lever 43 for turning the shaft. The inner end portion of the shaft also protrudes from the bracket and carries an eccentric block or cam -44 passing through a circular opening formed in the brake shoe 39.

Normally, the shoe is in a lowered position out of contact with the .under surface .of the ring 9 but when the handle 43 is grasped and the shaft 42 turned the shoe will be shifted upwardly and its upper end, which is formed with a side flange 45, .brought into binding engagement with the under surface of the ring and firmly grip the ring to prevent turning of the wheel.

While I have shown the preferred embodiment of my invention, it is to be understood thatvarious changes in the size, shape and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

'1. A tool for backingoff sucker rods comprising a wheel, there .being an opening at the center of the wheel and .a radially extending slot leadin from the outer-edge of the wheel to the opening, a depending annular collar carried by said wheel and formed with achannel about its outer peripheral edge face and with a radially extending slot registering with the slot of the wheel, a ring fitting about said collar within the channelthereo'f and rotatably supporting the collar and the wheeland formed with a slot for registering with the slots of the collar and the wheel whereby a sucker rod may be passed through the slots and into the center opening of the Wheel and dispose the wheel about the sucker rod concentric thereto, a stationary jaw carried by said wheel, a block removably carried by the stationary jaw and'extending across the slot of the wheel, confronting faces of the block andthe jaw being formed with recesses for receiving .a portion of the sucker rod, a key passing vertically throughthe recess of the block and having an inner edge face confronting the sucker rod, an abutment being provided upon the key for engaging; the block and limiting downward movement of the'key through the recess in the block,,a set screw threaded through an opening in the block engaging the outer edgeface of the key for forcing the key into gripping engagement with the sucker rod and causing the sucker rod to be turned with-the wheel, an arm extending radially from said ring and adapted to be connected with .means for holding the arm and the ring stationary, a latch carried by saidfarm for allowing rotation of the wheel in a direction to loosen sucker rods --and releasably hold the wheel against retrograderotation, and :a brakeimovable into position for engaging said collar and holding the wheel stationary.

2. A tool for backing oif sucker rods comprising a wheel having a hub and a rim and spokes extending between the hub and the rim, there being an opening at the center of the hub and a slot leading from the outer edge of the rim to the opening in the hub, a collar carried by said wheel concentric thereto and formed with a slot registering with the slot of the wheel, a ring fittin about said collar for rotatably mounting the collar and the wheel said ring being formed with a slot for registering with the slots of the collar and the wheel and allowing sucker rods to be passed inwardly through the slots and into the opening in the hub and dispose the Wheel about a sucker rod concentric thereto, a stationary jaw carried by said hub and formed with a recess registering with the opening in the hub for receiving a portion of a sucker rod, flanges extending from opposite ends of said stationary jaw, a block fitting against the recessed side of said sta tionary jaw and formed with hooked end portions engaging about the flanges of the stationary jaw and with a recess registering with the recess of the stationary jaw, a key extending vertically through the recess of the block and having a toothed side face for gripping a sucker rod, a set screw threaded through an opening in said block with its inner end abutting said key for forcing the key into gripping engagement with the sucker rod, and means allowing rotation of the Wheel in a direction for backing off sucker rods and releasably holding the ring against uncontrolled retrograde rotation.

FRANK AUSTIN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,300,995 Moody Apr. 15, 1919 1,566,583 Hoffman Aug. 26, 1924 1,580,002 Black Apr. 6, 1926 1,644,470 Greve Oct. 4, 1927 2,067,921 Hi-ld Jan. 19, 1937 2,217,238 Sisson Oct. 8, 1940 2,295,720 Dietzmann et al. Sept. 15, 1942 

